Abstract:
Dengue is a major public health problem around the world transmitted by mosquitoes carrying an arbovirus. The study was initiated to determine and compare the relative indoor and outdoor densities of the primary dengue vector, Aedes aegypti. Vector surveillance was conducted using oviposition trap technique in an assemblage of 19 households in Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City. Each sample household was provided with two ovitraps, indoor and outdoor. These traps were installed, collected and examined for the presence of Aedes larvae. A total of 2,691 Ae. aegypti larvae were recorded with a mean indoor larvitrap index equal to 10.980 larvae/ovitrap and 6.72 larvae/ovitrap for the outdoor site for the period of September 17 to October 12, 2009. There was no significant difference in the larval densities of Ae. aegypti between indoor and outdoor sites (p>0.05), implicating that adult gravid female Ae. aegypti were present and oviposited both indoors and outdoors. Therefore, Barangay Batasan Hills is constantly at an increased risk for dengue and local authorities are encouraged to improve the existing vector control programs to prevent future outbreaks.
